Shawn DuBravac, President, Astra InsightsAfter decades of digital transformation, we are now undergoing the datafication of our businesses, organizations, and lives. We have long been surrounded by information, but technology now allows us to transform data into new forms of value. Hear about how current technological shifts enable customized and personalized services and spark new business models and new revenue streams.

When it comes to video, small operators face big challenges with the way cable network programming content is packaged and sold wholesale to video providers. Outdated retransmission consent laws and regulations force you to provide all customers with all broadcast signals while satellite competitors sell broadcast stations as an ala carte package. Gain insight into the broad context of supporting a traditional video product in today’s environment and hear about strategies for offering your customers the video services they want to receive from your company.

The rural market segment continues to place increasing demands on rural networks. Learn how DWDM, 100G and FPGAs, instead of chips, network scale circuit emulation and network control, can help service providers meet current and future needs for their communities.

Many companies have rolled out home network management services finding additional revenue, decreased expenses and satisfied customers. But to get positive results takes careful planning and the right partners. Learn about the challenges and opportunities that come with managed WiFi and what you need to know to launch and support this type of service.

Thinking outside the box can lead to some interesting new lines of business for rural network operators. This panel will present three very different avenues that telcos might consider when looking to capitalize on existing resources and generate new sources of revenue.

Yesterday’s security deployment models are rapidly changing to meet tomorrow’s demands and the ever-shifting threat landscape. End-to-end ubiquitous security and threat intelligence is increasingly important for operators of all sizes. As trends like cloud, IoT, and BYOD continue to change service provider security needs, learn how to frame and grow your security strategies.

When operators reviewed fixed wireless solutions a decade ago, they may have determined that it was not the right decision for their network, but times and technologies have changed. Hear about the latest in line-of-sight, near-line-of-sight, and non-line-of-sight wireless networking technologies and how they can be incorporated into your plans for growth.

After being bombarded with more than 4,000,000 alarms monthly, Nex-Tech began in internal development project to efficiently analyze their network and access the real data behind the noise. Hear about lessons learned as a peer telco built a revenue-generating new business unit in their 24/7 NOC that converges people, processes and tools to not only address a business need for themselves, but also to provide best-in-class outsourced network monitoring for other networks.

Beginning with an overview of where AI development is today and how it might affect telcos in the future, this session will consider the hurdles and rewards of pursuing integration of voice-driven technologies into consumer-facing solutions.

Various network technologies are all evolving in the same direction toward better coverage and higher speeds. This session will provide an update on the mobile wireless market, including a look at the latest in 5G deployment plans across the industry. Hear about how copper, fiber and wireless access technologies are developing and how an optimal mix of these technologies can deliver better, faster and smarter service for smaller networks.

Many companies see a future with OTT, but the road to get there can take several paths. This discussion will explore those paths and address the challenges and opportunities you are likely to encounter along the way.

Few small network providers have made serious headway with IPv6 deployment. Learn what you should be considering and gain a broader understanding of where the national conversation is today on numbering.

There are many factors that go into the decision of whether to launch, expand or upgrade a fixed or mobile wireless system. Join our panel of experts as they give practical advice about financing your construction and operations, the benefits and disadvantages of partnering with another provider, and the practical elements of designing and building your wireless network.

If you know how to ask the right questions, your network can be your best business advisor informing every decision from new product development to targeted marketing. Hear how one of your peers uses analytics across their organization, what it took to get to there, and how it affects the bottom line.

Public safety representatives are in the midst of a technology transition, including Next-Generation 911 and the FirstNet public safety broadband network. Learn more about IP-enabled technologies, the value they can bring, and the role of rural telecom service providers in the public safety ecosystem.

Our Telecom FutureJuan Vela, Senior Director of Solutions Marketing, Calix
Take a look ahead to the technologies and business practices that will drive how rural telcos get business done in the future. Help shape the vision for your company with a futurist outlook on the industry of tomorrow.

1:30 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.

Cyber Wise Workshop
Join us for a free half-day workshop focused on what every rural telco should know about cyber risk assessment and mitigation, as well as strategies for threat response and recovery. Gain a deeper understanding of how to utilize the sector-specific guidance in the NTCA Cybersecurity Bundle to improve cybersecurity readiness at your company.

This workshop is free, but requires advance registration. For conference attendees, please add the workshop to your registration. For workshop-only attendees, please contact us to register.